The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-13
a FEMALE FERDINAND WARD.
Nine. La Touche, the Woman Banker,
Again in the Tolls of the Law.


Again in the Tolls of the Law.
From the Philadelphia Press
New YORK, Dec. S.-Marion La Touche,
the woman banker, whose peculiar methods
have again brought her under Inspector
Byrne's guardianship, was the central figure
this morning in the Jefferson Market Police
Court Mrs. Clara johnson, who claims to
be victim of the woman's persuasive argu-
ments to the amount of $3.50, was a second
figure, and appeared more concerned than
did the so-called 'female Ferdinand Ward"
Mrs La Touche is tall, sharp-featured
blonde. Her career during the last seven
teen years has been full of variety, and she
is well known to the police. She has been
four times wife, her name previous to the
present one being Marion L. Dow, under
which her banking operations at her charm
ing apartments, 165 West Twenty third
street, were conducted She has live1 in all
parts of this country and in 1875, through
necessity was a resident of st. John, n. B.
Then she came back to New York, settled in
Union Square, operated while and disap
peared. When next heard of she was in a
Philadelphia prison.
Four years ago she re-established herself
! in this city, opening a brokers' Office in
Thirty -seventh street. Her peculiar work
| here led her again to prison, from where
she was liberated only eight months ago. 1t
is since then that her swindling adver-
tiseInents have appeared, and it is claimed
| that she has duped confiding women to the
extent of many thousand dollars.
When she awoke in her cell at police head
quarters this morning, she looked very lit
tie like the handsome woman arrested yeSter
day. A night i'll a cell had not proved
beneficial to her appearance. About $50
O'clock with detective for n guide, she
started for the Jefferson Market Court. On
the way the pair stopped at a photograph
gallery, where the banker was photo
graphed. She didn't like the idea, and
screwed her face into all kinds of wrinkles,
necessitating a second sitting. This time
she was advised to behave herself, she
did. Then the walk was resumed. In court
she seemed as bold and defiant as when ar
rested. She walked to Clerk Heimberger's
desk with nohchalance, and talked glibly to
the detective. Her dress was elegant
| though quiet, her costume consisting of
dark walking dress, olose-htting, dark
jacket, pretty little drab, felt bonnet,
| with bunch of feathers to match for orna-
! ment, and plun-colored gloves.
She refused to talk until she had seen her
lawyer The latter, Joseph Stiner, was
busy with other cases when Madame was
being questioned, and she was at loss what
to do.
SIS your name Marion L. DOVE" asked
the Clerk
''Whv, no; of course not"
"What is itg"
II refuse to answer"
''Where do you live?"
81 don't know"
"And your occupationg'
THAT is no affair of yours. Where smy
lawyerW
"Will you sign this document" asked the
! Clerk, handing her a paper containg her
answers.
but Dow is not my name," she added;
''of course | won't"
But she changed her mind in minute,
and signed marion L. Dow" Then she
was told to step down. In a short time
Justice German was ready to hear testi-
| mony.
! The complaint charges that the defendant,
| by means of advertisements offering re-
munerative positions to women, had attract
| ed the attention of the complainant During
a visit to Mrs. La Touche the latter said to
| her that for the consideration of $500 she
| would give Mrs. johnson a $50 a week situa-
! ton in connection with the Stock Board.
| The widow did not have the money, so she
offered all she possessed, $50. This Mrs.
La Touche took, and Oct II engaged her at
salary of $40 per week. The complaint
continues that since then only S. all told
have been paid on the contract.
| In the absence of ex-senator Thomas F.
| Grady the hearing was postponed until to-
morrow and Mrs La Touche committed to
prison in default of $500 bail
Mrs. La Touche occupied suite of rooms
at 1855 West Twenty third street. One
parlor was used as a reception room, and
| the other was purely business Office. In
it were telephone and a stock quotation
ticker, two revolving desks, complete files
of the daily papers and financial bulletins,
and blackboard. on which the current
quotations were marked. The landlady said
the visitors seemed all to be "first-class
people," Most of them came in carriages,
and some came two or three times day
They never gave their names or sent in
| cards.
| Some of Mrs. La Touches fiowery adver-
| tisementS were found IN her office. One
read:
"a fortune in few months A splendid
opportunity for ladies with a few hundred
dollars to invest. The advertiser, lady of
| long experience in financial matters and
unusual opportunities in Wall street, will
act for ladies only. Fifteen to 20 per cent
per month guaranteed.
tMME T A TOrrc,ur